'Something for everyone' at the Chicago Motorcycle Show in St. Charles
People packed the Mega Center at Pheasant Run Resort and Convention Center in St. Charles Saturday for the 32nd annual Chicago Motorcycle Show and Parts Expo.
Show promoter Walter Gill of Paragons Promotion estimates a few thousand people will visit during the three-day show, which runs through Sunday. A motorcycle rider and enthusiast himself since his teen years (he prefers Yamaha), Gill took over running the show about 10 years ago.
The show features about 150 vendors of all kinds including bike and leather apparel vendors, a custom bike show with $5,000 in cash and trophy prizes, several swap meet vendors (new and used parts), a comedy show and more.
Actor Mark Boone Junior, who played Robert "Bobby" Munson on the FX show 'Sons of Anarchy,' was also on hand to greet fans Saturday during special times.
Gill says this is the only show of its type in the Chicago area, which is one of the reasons why people keep coming back each year. It was held at McCormick Place before moving to St. Charles about five years ago.
Visitor Don Klotzke of South suburban Worth, was perusing the swap meet vendors and said he has been attending the show since it started.
Kerry Wolf, Gill's assistant at Paragons Promotion, said camaraderie among people of all backgrounds sharing an interest in motorcycles is the main ingredient that keeps people coming back year after year.
"That's what brings everybody here. It's something for everybody; it's not just one group or the other," Wolf said.
For details and a schedule, visit motorcyclemonster.com or paragonspromotion.com The show continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission costs $12 online or $15 at the door.